The ice man

Adam Cairns | Dispatch6:01 a.m.: Columbus Blue Jackets ice technician Ian Huffman arrives at Nationwide Arena before 6 a.m. on game days. The team was set to play the San Jose Sharks later that evening. Huffman's spacious office is also the storage garage for two of the team's Zambonis.Request to buy this photo

Adam Cairns | Dispatch6:08 a.m.: Huffman brews the first of many pots of coffee throughout his 18-hour work day.Request to buy this photo

Adam Cairns | Dispatch7:28 a.m.: Using filtered City of Columbus water, Huffman fills the 200-gallon water tank in the Zamboni. He generally lays down 100 gallons of water each time he takes the Zamboni out on the ice.Request to buy this photo

Adam Cairns | Dispatch7:50 a.m.: Huffman uses a machine to scrape the ice along the boards. After one pass with the machine and one pass with a hand tool, Huffman can put water down with the Zamboni.Request to buy this photo

Adam Cairns | Dispatch8:31 a.m.: Huffman constantly keeps track of temperatures and humidity levels inside and outside Nationwide Arena. A series of sensors in the rafters and below the ice sends data to Huffman's laptop. The data is charted and sent to the NHL on game days.Request to buy this photo

Adam Cairns | Dispatch8:32 a.m.: Huffman constantly keeps track of temperatures and humidity levels inside and outside Nationwide Arena. A series of sensors in the rafters and below the ice sends data to Huffman's laptop. The data is charted and sent to the NHL on game days.Request to buy this photo

Adam Cairns | Dispatch9:07 a.m.: Huffman uses the Zamboni to resurface the ice prior to the Blue Jackets' morning skate. Huffman lays down 100 gallons of water in a thin layer, waits for it to freeze, and then puts down a second coat of 100 gallons to achieve a smooth surface.Request to buy this photo

Adam Cairns | Dispatch9:14 a.m.: After resurfacing the ice, Huffman drills holes for the goals prior to the morning skate.Request to buy this photo

Adam Cairns | Dispatch11:18 a.m.: Following the Blue Jackets morning skate, Huffman resurfaces the ice before the San Jose Sharks' practice. Huffman takes the Zamboni onto the ice more than a dozen times on game days.Request to buy this photo

Adam Cairns | Dispatch4:32 p.m.: After an afternoon lull, Huffman again resurfaces the ice prior to warm-ups for the game against the San Jose Sharks. The Zamboni simultaneously shaves off the top layer of ice and lays down a thin coat of water which quickly freezes.Request to buy this photo

Adam Cairns | Dispatch4:43 p.m.: After resurfacing, Huffmann examines the ice prior to team warmups.Request to buy this photo

Adam Cairns | Dispatch6:01 p.m.: Zamboni drivers Ian Huffman and Ted Less hang out beside their rigs while dirty water drains into the snow pit in the back of the garage.Request to buy this photo

Adam Cairns | Dispatch6:38 p.m.: Huffman chats with members of the Jackets ice crew prior to the game against the Sharks. The women are part of the 15-person staff that report to him.Request to buy this photo

Adam Cairns | Dispatch6:53 p.m.: As seats in the arena begin to fill, Huffman crouches down to give the ice one last check prior to the game against the Sharks.Request to buy this photo

Adam Cairns | Dispatch6:57 p.m.: Huffmann pays extra attention to the ice in front of the Zamboni door as referees hit the rink.Request to buy this photo

Adam Cairns | Dispatch9:04 p.m.: With a loud clank, the Zamboni doors open up and Huffman's ice crew rush out to scrape the ice during a television timout.Request to buy this photo

Adam Cairns | The Columbus Dispatch9:40 p.m.: With the game still tied following the overtime period, Huffman hops on the Zamboni for a quick scrape of the ice prior to the shootout.Request to buy this photo

Adam Cairns | Dispatch10:49 p.m.: Following the game and an hour-long kids skate, Huffman peels back the rubber mat before resurfacing the ice one last time for the day.Request to buy this photo

Adam Cairns | Dispatch11:02 p.m.: With only the janitorial crew left in the arena, Huffman hand scrapes along the boards before bringing out the Zamboni.Request to buy this photo

Adam Cairns | Dispatch11:06 p.m.: Following the game, Huffman makes his 16th, and final, trip for the day around the ice on the Zamboni.Request to buy this photo

Adam Cairns | Dispatch11:15 p.m.: With the Blue Jackets practicing early the next morning, Huffman's day ends with one last resurfacing of the ice.Request to buy this photo